Ingraham+v.+Wright

Ingraham v. Wright Supreme Court of the United States Argued November 2, 1976; Decided April 19, 1977 51253132102.0 Background: Ingraham, a student in a junior high school in Dade County, Florida, filed suit against Wright, Ingraham’s principal, claiming that Wright’s exercise of corporal punishment violated the Eight’s Amendment “cruel and unusual punishment” clause and the Fourteenth Amendment’s “substantive due process” clause. Wright argued that the relative and applicable Florida statute at the time constituted the use of corporal punishment as long as it was not “degrading or unduly severe.” Despite evidence that proved the paddling was excessively harsh, the District Court granted Wright’s motion to dismiss the complaint, finding no constitutional remedies; this was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

Decision and Rationale: The court concluded that the Eight Amendment’s “cruel and unusual punishment” clause was not applicable to cases where public schools used corporal punishment as a punitive sanction. Also, the “substantive due process” clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not necessitate notice prior to imposition of corporal punishment because the state’s relative law authorized the practice and allowed for common law restitutions.

Impact: Issues arising from the implementation of corporal punishment in public schools have been reserved for states to resolve. Therefore, there is no one definitive policy regarding corporal discipline; comprehensive policies defining when, if ever, corporal punishment will be practiced, what student behaviors warrant its usage, and the exact procedural intricacies of how it will be implemented vary across state lines. Some states and localities still incorporate corporal punishment into their schools while others have completely banned the concept. Any formal, legal student complaints will be resolved within whatever state the complaint originated and will be decided based off of individualistic policies. The absence of a normative standard implies that teachers who move frequently should remain abreast of their school’s corporal punishment policy.

Quiz Question:

True or False?

Corporal punishment is an issue that has been settled unequivocally by the United States Supreme Court where a standard has been established.


 * Completed Indpependently by Stephen Brooks

Ingram v. Wright United States Supreme Court Argued: November 2, 1976 Decided: April 19, 1977 ** Summary: ** The plaintiff, James Ingram, a 14 year old junior high school student in Dade County Florida was sent to the principal’s office for misbehaving. He was to receive a paddling, but refused to allow the administrators to paddle him. The administrators are accused of holding Ingram down, and paddling him so severely that he required medical attention. Ingram and his family sued the school, citing “cruel and unusual punishment” and a “loss of liberty.” ** Decision and Rationale: ** The court held that the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause was intended to protect criminals, not school children. The subject of corporal punishment is an issue left to the states discretion, and in this case, Florida law sufficiently protected the students from any real harm. The court goes on to further state that corporal punishment within a school does not require notice and hearing prior to the punishment. ** Impact on Education: ** Since the Supreme Court did not make a definitive ruling regarding corporal punishment in schools, and instead left that matter for the states to decide, it will be important for educators to be aware of and thoroughly informed on their state and school policies(especially as they move from school to school advancing their career). ** Quiz Question: ** T/F: Policies concerning corporal punishment will vary from state to state. Ashley Thornton

Whitney Harris Ingraham vs. Wright United States Supreme Court Argued:  November 2, 1976   Decided:   April 19, 1977 Plaintiff- Ingraham Defendant-Wright Background: Ingraham and another boy at Drew Junior High were paddled in school and argued it to be ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ The boys wanted to argue that the paddling violated their 8th and 14th amendment rights. They said the 8th was violated because of cruel and unusual punishment. The 14th, they argued was violated, because they were not given a chance to be heard before their corporal punishment. Decision and rationale: The boys lost the case, and then also lost two appeals. The judges said that they have to protect students, while allowing teachers and principals to maintain order in the school. They said there are very few reports of abuse from schools and that the principals have to be allowed to punish. If the child is abused however, and there is proof, the student can take that principal or teacher to court personally. After reading a couple of sources, there was a common quote from one of the judges about a ‘fair-minded school principal.’ This is thought to be the common thing people would expect but I also read in one source that at Drew Junior High there were several instances of students being beaten beyond the necessary. One student was whipped on the arms and his arms were damaged for a week or so and it said that Ingraham missed several days of school with a hematoma. There were instances of children getting 20-50 licks. There are only supposed to be 1-5 licks. Impact on Teaching: Teacher and principals have to be careful physically and legally when paddling in schools anymore. Most states have made their own laws about paddling in school, and many have ban it. As a teacher I do hope that my school is allowed to paddle because I find it to be effective punishment. However, I know I will have to be cautious in doing so. Quiz Question: Did Ingraham win in his appeal against Wright? What was the verdict?